U.S. Military Carries Out 15th Strike, Kills Three

The U.S. military carried out another lethal strike on a vessel in the Caribbean in international waters, killing three men, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said. Hegseth posted unclassified video, said no U.S. forces were harmed, and described the slain crew as "narco‑terrorists," saying U.S. intelligence identified the vessel as carrying narcotics and linked to a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. The attack is part of a campaign that began Sept. 2 and is at least the 15th — some outlets report a 16th — in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, bringing the reported death toll from the operations to roughly 60–64 people. The Trump administration has framed the campaign as an "armed conflict" against drug cartels using authorities similar to those invoked after Sept. 11, 2001, and has provided a confidential target list to some Senate Republicans. Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and leaders of the Armed Services Committee have demanded disclosure of the administration's legal opinions and fuller details, while the strikes and a surge of U.S. assets to the region have intensified scrutiny over legality, transparency, and the identity of those being targeted.